St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-01
DIED ON THE GALLOWS.
Mrs. Roxalana Druse, the Herkimer, N.
Y, Murderess, Expiated Her Aw-
full Crime Yesterday.
Her Last Night on Earth Passed in Fit
ful Slumber and Spasms of
Hysteria.
The Scene at the ScaffoId The
Woman's Final ASonizing
Shrek.
Confession NIade--How the Fiend
Killed and Cooked Her
Husband.

AiiAAhIMElN, y. L =, TcD. go. - NllS.
DruSe passed her last night on earth in q
restless manner. About u o'clock. after
sleeping for about an hour, she arose and
wrote letter TO the sheriff, thanking him
for his kindness ard requesting that Gev.
Il. w. Powell be given charge of her body.
After writing, Mrs. Druse laid down again
and fell into Il doZe. Sne was attacked
with hySteria in violent form, and it re-
qulred considerable effort OH the part of the
watchers To arouse and calm her. During
the night she ate one OF the heartieSt meals
that she had partaken since she was prlS-
oner, and she had about two hours OF rest
after a. H., but did not sleep soundly at
any time. One of her first visitors this
morning was Supt. Irving Terry, of the
Onondaga peniteMtiary. who brought her
farewell from her daughter Mary, who is a
prisoner, and a bouquet of flowers. His
visit had
A MOST EXCITING EFFECT
upon Mrs. DruSe. Her death watch, Mrs.
Waterman, who had maintained herself
admirably throughout, was affected to tears.
and for some minutes all We're affected in
the same manner Rev. DR.. Powell visited
Mrs. DruSe about Il. III. and did all in his
power to calm her and prepare her for the
awful moment. She ate no breakfast, but
partook OF stimulating medicine prepared
by the Jail physician, DR.. Gay. The town
was crowded with visitors, who contented
themselves with lettering about the Jail.
At 1880 o'clock the sheritf's jury was Or
dered into the Jail yard. while Sheriff Cook,
Under Sheriff Rice and the deputies and
physicians proceeded to Mrs. Druses cell.
When they reached there Mrs. DruSe
SAT WEEPING
and holding Mary's bouquet in her hands and
WEARING some of her flowers about her
breast. Mrs. Waterman. her death watch,
stood by her side sobbing. Rev. DR..
Powell sat in front of her. while her coun-
sci, H. Dwight Luce Chaplain Durstan
and the deputies and physicians stood
about the door of the cell. Sheriff
Cook began reading the death warrant at
1887 a. III. Mrs. Druse's pulse was so at
l1:42. just before the march to the gal
lows was commenced it raised to 90. TO
those who offered to assist Mrs. Druse in
arising, DIR. Powell said: 'She will bear
herself well and does not need any assist
ance." Sheriff Cook and Under Sheriff
Rice led the procession, followed by Rev.
Dr.. Powell and Mrs. Druse, and the physi-
clans and deputies in order. Mrs. Druse
was dressed in black cashmere, with lace
edgng on the neck and sleeves. She wore
small shawl over her shoulders that was
loaned to her by Mrs. Cook. The day was
bright, but high wind prevailed that
caused the deputies and others to suffer Sc
verely in the zero temperature. The crowd
about the court house and Jail was very
quiet and orderly throughout. At 11:42
Mrs Druse and DR.. Powell knelt Oh the
floor OF the Scaffold
UNDER THE ROPE.
Mrs Druse held her daughters bouquet
in her hand and closed her eyes while Dr.
Powell offered prayer. She was then asked
if she had anything to say, when she re-
ferred to DR.. Powell, who thanked all those
who had been kind to her. and implored all
Of her enemies to forgive her, as she for
gave all. DR.. Powell then pressed Mrs.
DruseS hand and left the Jail yard, carry
ing Mary'S bouquet with him. Depu ty
William McKnlay pinioned Mrs. Druses
arms, knees and feet. She maintained her
cOmposure and was firm until Deputy Bal
lou put the black cap on her head and ad-
justed the rope. Deputy Nanyon, who
stood at her right. then bid her goodbye as
she turned and looking into his eyes smiled
and pressed his hand. Deputy Ballou adj
justed the moose under and back of Mrs
Druse's left ear and pulled the cap over her
face. Mrs. Druse moaned, cried and
finally shreked so loud that her
voice WIS Hediu i'll lnG jail anu
street adjoining. Sheriff Cook drop
ped mis- hand over his breast
and Deputy Ballou sprung the
trap. The 213 pound weight dropped at
1I:48 o'clock a. IN. and the Woman'S body
was lifted about three feet above the dool
Of the gallowS. There was
But ONE CONFUSION,
or muscular contraction of the body, and
the body then hung quiet. The wind was
bowling tiercely at this moment. with q
bright sky. Mrs. DruSe's death under the
judgment of the law was far more easy and
merciful than was that of her victim, hel
husband, in December, 1884. Drs. Kay
and SuitOr took observations of the woman's
pulse and heart during the time she was
hanging. They pronounced her dead a
1908 p. m, but the body was left hanging
nntil 1914, twenty-siX minutes after the
weight fell, when it was taken down by or
der of the sheriff. Upon examination the
surgeons declared that her neck was moi
broken, and that death was caused by
strangulation. Rev. Dr.. Powell re-enteret
the jail yard and took possession of the re-
mains of Mrs. Druse, in compliance will
her request. The casket was in coffin form
with silver-plated trimmings and an orna
ment consisting of a hand grasping buncl
of flowers on the top. The expression OF
the face of the dead woman gave no indi
cation that Mrs Druse suffered any pain
Twenty-Five persons saw the eXecuti on
The remains were placed in vault at Oak
hill cemetery.